The value of large-scale randomised control trials in system-wide improvement: The case of the Reading Catch-Up Programme

South African Journal of Education

Volker Schöer¹  Thabo Mabogoane²  Brahm Fleisch³  Stephen Taylor⁴ 

[1] African Micro-Economic Research Unit, School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa;Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Presidency, Pretoria, South Africa;Division of Educational Leadership, Policy and Skills, Wits School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa;Research Directorate, Department of Basic Education, Pretoria, South Africa;

关键词: impact evaluation;    intermediate phase literacy;    Randomised Control Trial;   

DOI  :  10.15700/saje.v37n1a1248

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

This article illustrates the value of large-scale impact evaluations with counterfactual components. It begins by exploring the limitations of small-scale impact studies, which do not allow reliable inference to a wider population or which do not use valid comparison groups. The paper then describes the design features of a recent large-scale randomised control trial (RCT) evaluation of an intermediate phase literacy intervention that we evaluated. Using a rigorous sampling process and randomised assignment, the paper shows the value of the approach, and how the RCT method prevents researchers from reaching potentially harmful false positive findings. The paper also considers some of the limitations of the RCT method and makes recommendations to mitigate these.

【 授权许可】

Unknown